Best Wildflower Hikes near Breckenridge

By: Ashley Vitiello | [lmt-post-modified-info]

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♪ Don’t go chasing waterfalls… ♫

BUT instead, it’s

♪ Don’t go chasing wildflowers… ♫ without first referencing my awesome guide below.

After years of living in Breckenridge and chasing wildflowers every summer, I’ve assembled my favorite wildflower hikes in the area. Some are nearby and easily accessible, other may require a longer day hike or a scenic drive.

No matter where your wildflower chase takes you, I can pretty much guarantee the wildflowers in the Colorado Rockies will blow your mind.

The list below is generally in order of accessibility, with closer and easier hikes first then farther and more difficult hikes later.

Breckenridge Ski Resort

In the summer months, Breckenridge Ski Resort turns into a summer paradise with mountain biking trails, hiking trails, alpine slides, and lots more.

Spending time on the mountain is one of the best summer activities in Breckenridge, and it’s one of the best places to see wildflowers. Just take a scenic ride up on the Colorado Superchair on Peak 8.

Hiking trails wind across the mountainside and everywhere you look there are stunning wildflower meadows and mind-blowing mountain views.

This is easily the most accessible and family-friendly option for optimal wildflowers and mountain views.

Boreas Pass Road

One of the most beautiful wildflower fields I’ve ever seen was this sunflower superbloom (photo below). And I didn’t even have to hike to see it.

It’s visible from Boreas Pass Road, an easy drive from downtown Breckenridge. This scenic drive is a fun, family-friendly activity with mountain views and plentiful wildflowers.

Drive from Breckenridge to the top of the pass, and walk around the historic town of Boreas. Hike Black Powder Pass for even more wildflowers (see below) then return to Breckenridge the way you came.

Read our article about Boreas Pass for everything you need to know.

Black Powder Pass

Black Powder Pass is easily one of my favorite hikes of all time.

It’s not very long (only 3.4 miles roundtrip) and it’s 98% above treeline. This means no trees are breaking up the unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains and endless fields of wildflowers.

Plus, you get to drive the scenic Boreas Pass Road to get to the trailhead.

Shrine Ridge

If you’re chasing wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains, Shrine Ridge is the wildflower mecca of Summit County. It’s the EPITOME of wildflower hikes and it’s a must-see if you can handle the 4.6 miles and 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

I go every single year and I’m always impressed by this hike.

Shrine Ridge trail has it all: mountain views, pine trees, mushrooms, and of course, INCREDIBLE wildflowers.

Even if the wildflowers aren’t peaking, Shrine Ridge is worth the hike.

Check out our article about Shrine Ridge and see the trail listing on AllTrails.

Pro tip: this trail can get quite busy, so get there early to beat the crowds and have the fields to yourself.

Lily Pad Lake

Lily Pad Lake is aptly named – it’s a mountain lake full of beautiful water lilies.

The hike isn’t difficult, but finding this lake is a fun adventure through the woods. If you can time it with the lily bloom, your eyes will be blessed with endless yellow flowers on the water.

See the listing on AllTrails.

Mohawk Lakes

Mohawk Lakes is one of those once-in-a-lifetime trails that no pictures will ever do justice. It’s easily the best day hike near Breckenridge and also earned the #1 spot on our list of best waterfall hikes near Breckenridge.

It’s the quintessential Rocky Mountain hike with multiple alpine lakes, a huge waterfall, pine and aspen forests, subalpine wildflowers, and plentiful adventure.

It can be a more difficult hike, but it’s worth the effort to see these amazing views.

Read our article about Mohawk Lakes for more details and see the listing on AllTrails,

Acorn Creek Loop

Acorn Creek Loop is another quintessential mountain hike. There are stream crossings, beautiful forests and aspens, huge wildflower meadows, mountain views, and much more.

Plus, it’s at a lower elevation so you’ll see flowers and green grass much earlier than most of the other hikes on this list.

It’s also lesser known, so you’re less likely to battle crowds like you would at Mohawk Lakes or Shrine Ridge.

AND it’s the only place near Breckenridge where I’ve found big lupines (see photo below).

Read our article about Acorn Creek Loop and see its listing on AllTrails.

Upper Straight Creek

I kept finding Upper Straight Creek on the lists of best wildflower hikes near Breckenridge. But there was hardly any information available and I had never heard of it.

After some digging, I found an AllTrails listing for it and checked it out for myself. I was a little late in the season, but the wildflowers were still absolutely stunning.

The trail is a series of switchbacks that climb the mountainside near Eisenhower Tunnel. Make sure you get good directions because it’s easy to miss the turn into the parking area.

This trail has wildflowers I hadn’t seen before. Plus, the turnaround point at the top has crazy mountain views in all directions.

Wheeler Lake

Wheeler Lake (not to be confused with Wheeler Lakes or The Wheeler Trail) is a high alpine lake near Hoosier Pass. It’s one of the least trafficked trails near Breckenridge, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

At 6.5 miles roundtrip and over 1,200 feet of elevation gain, this trail will take your breath away in more ways than one.

But the highlight is the multiple waterfalls flowing into Wheeler Lake – and each waterfall is surrounded by wildflowers.

Read our article about Wheeler Lake and check out the AllTrails listing.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hiking in July, I can pretty much guarantee that every hike in the Breckenridge area will have wildflowers. June may require you to go lower in elevation (like Acorn Creek Loop) and August may require higher elevations (like Black Powder Pass).

If your vacation dates are flexible, the best time to visit for peak wildflowers is mid-July to late July.

You can still find flowers outside of this time frame, but July is best for PRIME conditions.

But over the years of living in Breckenridge, I’ve found that these hikes stand out when it comes to endless wildflower fields that will blow your mind.

I highly recommend following the Colorado Wildflowers and Colorado Wildflower Reports on Facebook for updates on current wildflower blooms.

FAQ’s

When is the best time to see wildflowers in Breckenridge?

Peak wildflower season in Breckenridge is mid-July. High-elevation flowers may peak through early August, and lower-elevation flowers may start peaking in June.

Where are the best places to see wildflowers in Breckenridge?

If you’re visiting Breckenridge in the summer months, there will be wildflowers everywhere! But if you’re looking for some wildflower hikes that really stand out, we recommend these top choices and more…

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About The Author

Ashley is an adventurous soul who loves all things nature, especially warm sunshine, wildflowers, scenic snacking, and mushrooms. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast who has spent years enjoying time outside doing things like hiking, camping, and rock climbing.
Her goal with Know Nothing Nomads is to make these hobbies easily accessible through knowledgeable content and how-to's based on all the stuff she's learned on her journey. If she isn't writing an article, she's probably in a forest looking at big mountain views and tiny pieces of moss on the side of the trail.

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We are Derek and Ashley of Know Nothing Nomads. Whether it is hiking, camping, or just generally being outside, we love it. We are so happy that you have found our little blog and hope that you stick around a while. Feel free to contact us with any questions or get in touch with us on social media!

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